New York, N.Y. — Timothy Higdon, Chief of External Affairs of the Girl Scouts of the USA and Patricia Stensrud, Board President of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, along with Judy Vredenburgh, President and CEO of Girls Inc. rang The Closing Bell® at the New York Stock Exchange in honor of Financial Literacy Month, underscoring the importance of financial empowerment and financial capability for girls. They were joined on the bell podium by several Girl Scouts and girls participating in the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge.

"It's particularly appropriate that the girls make this appearance on Wall Street," said Higdon, "since a very familiar Girl Scout tradition has much in common with the world of business. The $715 million dollar Girl Scout Cookie Program is far and away the most successful entrepreneurship program for girls—and only girls—in the world. Many female business leaders got their start selling cookies. In fact, some 80 percent of American female executives and business owners are former Girl Scouts."

Earlier this year, Girl Scouts of the USA announced the release of the Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder app for the iPhone or iPod Touch, to more efficiently connect customers to girls and increase consumer access to one of America's most popular products, Girl Scout Cookies. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program girls develop five essential skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Girls set cookie goals to support their chosen activities for the year.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.4 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.

About Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. delivers life-changing programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Research-based curricula, delivered by trained professionals, equip girls to achieve academically; lead healthy and physically active lives; manage money; navigate media messages; and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. The network of local Girls Inc. nonprofit organizations serves 164,000 girls annually at over 1,500 sites in 350 cities across the United States and Canada. Learn more about our programs and advocacy at www.girlsinc.org.